Game Gear Replacement Screen

[HyruleHero]

I just recently pretty much got a Sega Game Gear for free which is pretty cool. The one issue is the fact the screen even when on best contrast does not appear all that visible. I saw that they sell replacement screens on Ebay? Is it worth picking one up and is it an easy repair??

[Ed Oscuro]

The replacement screens you see on eBay are just the outer clear plastic covering, not the actual screen.

In the Technical subforum (I think), one of our members showed the results of using a more modern LCD screen inside a Game Gear case.

[Shadow Kisuragi]

Actually, that was for a Nomad, but it's essentially the same mod.

[Ed Oscuro]

I had a feeling it might've been a Nomad...all I could remember was that it was showing the title screen of a Sonic game.

Incidentally I thought the screen on the replacement showed a bit more resolution at the top than on the original, or possibly the aspect ratio changed slightly. It didn't look identical, but if somebody handed it to me I likely wouldn't complain.

[MarioMania]

Can a modern LCD screen even fit in a Game Gear??

[TheDomesticInstitution]

Yeah, I have a 26" in mine.

[otoko]

Can a modern LCD screen even fit in a Game Gear??


Yeah, I have a 26" in mine.

http://ihasahotdog.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/128733470418286660.jpg

[Greg2600]

The new screen may not help, the problem with the contrast is caused by lousy capacitors. This fellow gives an outline what would have to be replaced.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eitPZ24_7KE

[Ed Oscuro]

Yeah, I have a 26" in mine.
Post of the year. (And we're only three days in!)


The new screen may not help, the problem with the contrast is caused by lousy capacitors. This fellow gives an outline what would have to be replaced.
True, the caps are a good place to start. The screens will still be lousy though - ghosting can't be fixed along with the caps.

[skaar]

You know it would be awesome if you could replace the LCD in a Game Gear with I dunno... an active matrix screen?

The video lag on that thing was horrible. I'm sure someone's done it.

[jonjandran]

No you cannot replace the GameGear screen with another one.

There is no video output and the chip inside the GameGear won't do proper composite. You can make an adapter for it but it will only output composite in black and white.

So basically you are stuck with the crappy GameGear screen :(

[TheDomesticInstitution]

The new screen may not help, the problem with the contrast is caused by lousy capacitors. This fellow gives an outline what would have to be replaced.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eitPZ24_7KE

I didn't think of this. And here I just fixed a desktop LCD monitor with new caps. I wonder how many things I've gotten rid of that could have been fixed with a few caps. You better believe that if one of the televisions in the house goes on the lamb, I'll be tearing it apart and replacing the caps.

[MachineGex]

I got rid of my gamegear a few years after it came out because the screen seemed so washed/blurry. Also, Anyone notice when you press the buttons, the screen makes waves. Kinda like the buttons are pressing down on the sides of the screen. Really annoying to me.

[Greg2600]

I didn't think of this. And here I just fixed a desktop LCD monitor with new caps. I wonder how many things I've gotten rid of that could have been fixed with a few caps. You better believe that if one of the televisions in the house goes on the lamb, I'll be tearing it apart and replacing the caps.
Well, often the problem with PC/Laptop LCD screens that go dark is the inverter board, which handles the power distribution for the monitor. Usually just replacing the board fixes it. Sometimes the backlights themselves go bad (major pain to fix) or pixes/lines crap out, but usually its something with the power supplying the screen. In the case of the Game Gear, if you're good with soldering, I would do that first, as the LCD replacement itself sounds much more complicated and expensive.

Also, probably well known by now, but the same problems with capacitors cause the audio to go soft or cut out completely in the game gear. The same guy fixed those on screen as well....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA1CAmqWzYA&feature=related

And here's a dude who replaced every cap in the whole unit....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFLmua59aDg

It's just too bad that SEGA had the misfortune of manufacturing these when there was an industry-wide batch of bad capacitors, or they'd all be working fine still, just like our old Gameboys. I wish I could solder, but unfortunately I am terrible at it.

[jb143]

No you cannot replace the GameGear screen with another one.

There is no video output and the chip inside the GameGear won't do proper composite. You can make an adapter for it but it will only output composite in black and white.

So basically you are stuck with the crappy GameGear screen :(

I seem to recall someone making a composite (with color) convertor to connect their game gear to a TV. If you could shove all that in the case with a better screen and it all fit then it should work. Probally not the best solution but far from saying it's impossible.

And bad caps was the first thing that popped in my head as well.

[otoko]

You mean this?

http://members.optusnet.com.au/eviltim/ggrgb/title_pic.jpg

A small google search turned this up: http://members.optusnet.com.au/eviltim/ggrgb/ggrgb.html (http://members.optusnet.com.au/eviltim/ggrgb/ggrgb.html)

[jonjandran]

LOl. Well that is a bunch of work and I still would have to make sure another lcd would fit in there with that board.

Does anyone here have the skill to make that board out of newer and possible much smaller and less parts :)

[svcoco]

I recently bought a Game Gear and I wondering if it would be possible to change the LCD screen following this proyect: http://users.tpg.com.au/vile88/ggtv/ggtv.htm
but connecting the composite video signal to a new LCD screen, in a similar way to this proyect: http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=17415&sid=75e531ef9df84a645c740e8fa78a1ac2